Vertical banding machine

ABSTRACT

Machine for applying elastic bands onto objects comprising at least two band holding devices for receiving the elastic band from the elastic band supply mechanism; stretching the elastic band for providing a band opening surrounded by the elastic band for accommodating a plurality of objects for banding therein; and, disengaging the elastic band from the holding devices for deploying the elastic band onto the plurality of objects; an actuator coupled to the band holding devices for moving the band holding devices between a first position for receiving the elastic band and a second position for disengaging the elastic band; and, a flip mechanism having the band holding devices and the actuator mounted thereto for moving the band holding devices from a band receiving position, where the elastic band is disposed in a plane oriented substantially horizontal, to a band disengaging position, where the elastic band is disposed in a plane oriented substantially vertical, wherein in the disengaging position the band holding devices, the actuator, and the flip mechanism are disposed outside a handling space determined by projecting the band opening along a straight line through the band opening and oriented substantially perpendicular thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to automated material handling machines,and more particularly to a banding machine for applying elastic bandsonto elongated objects.

2. Brief Description of the Related Art

Numerous objects in agriculture or industry are combined in bundles andbanded using elastic bands for shipping. In many cases these objects areof elongated nature such as, for example, asparagus, cut flowers, pipes,posts or sticks, to name a few. Typically, these objects are bundled andthen hold having a horizontal orientation by one worker while anotherworker applies an elastic band onto the hold objects at a certaindistance to one end of the objects depending on the length of the same.In some instances two elastic bands are applied, placed at differentlocations along the objects.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,257,934 issued to Swift et al. teaches a banding machinecomprising a mechanism for cutting elastic bands from a tubular elasticband stock, which are then disposed on fingers in a gravity assistedfashion for stretching the elastic band and disposing the same onto theobjects.

The teachings of Swift et al. combine the production of the elasticbands—by cutting the same from the tubular elastic band stock—using arelatively simple mechanism with the mechanism for banding the objectsin a single machine. Unfortunately, the finger sub-frame of the bandingmachine is designed for applying elastic bands on lobster claws or othershort objects and does not allow banding of elongated objects.

It is desirable to provide a banding machine which produces elasticbands from a tubular elastic band stock and enables provision of theelastic bands for banding of elongated objects. It is also desirable toprovide a banding machine which disposes the elastic bands onto thefingers in a gravity assisted fashion while the elongated objects areheld having a horizontal orientation for banding in order to facilitatehandling of the same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a bandingmachine which produces elastic bands from a tubular elastic band stockand enables provision of the elastic bands for banding of elongatedobjects.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a banding machinewhich disposes the elastic bands onto the fingers in a gravity assistedfashion while the elongated objects are held having a horizontalorientation for banding in order to facilitate handling of the same.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided avertical banding machine. The vertical banding machine comprises anelastic band supply mechanism for providing an elastic band in a gravityassisted fashion. Below the elastic band supply mechanism at least twoband holding devices are disposed for: receiving the elastic band fromthe elastic band supply mechanism; stretching the elastic band forproviding a band opening surrounded by the elastic band foraccommodating a plurality of objects for banding therein; and,disengaging the elastic band from the holding devices for deploying theelastic band onto one or a plurality of objects. An actuator coupled tothe band holding devices moves the band holding devices between a firstposition for receiving the elastic band and a second position fordisengaging the elastic band. A flip mechanism has the band holdingdevices and the actuator mounted thereto for moving the band holdingdevices from a band receiving position, where the elastic band isdisposed in a plane oriented substantially horizontal, to a banddisengaging position, where the elastic band is disposed in a planeoriented substantially vertical. In the disengaging position the bandholding devices, the actuator, and the flip mechanism are disposedoutside a handling space determined by projecting the band opening alonga straight line through the band opening and oriented substantiallyperpendicular thereto.

The advantage of the present invention is that it provides a bandingmachine which produces elastic bands from a tubular elastic band stockand enables provision of the elastic bands for banding of elongatedobjects. A further advantage of the present invention is that itprovides a banding machine which disposes the elastic bands onto thefingers in a gravity assisted fashion while the elongated objects areheld having a horizontal orientation for banding in order to facilitatehandling of the same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a front view of the banding machine of one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view from one side of the banding machineof one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1C is a perspective view of the front of the banding machine of oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a top view of the flip plate of the banding machine of oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a bottom view of the flip plate of the banding machine of oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2C and 2D are perspective views of the band holding device of thebanding machine of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A to 3C are perspective views of the front of the banding machineof one embodiment of the present invention at different stages ofoperation;

FIG. 3D is a front view of the elastic band supply mechanism of thebanding machine of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3E and 3F are perspective views of the front of the bandingmachine of one embodiment of the present invention at different stagesof operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which the invention belongs. Although any methods andmaterials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used inthe practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methodsand materials are now described.

Referring to FIGS. 1A to 2D, a vertical banding machine 100 according toa preferred embodiment of the invention is provided, which produceselastic bands from a tubular elastic band stock and enables provision ofthe elastic bands for banding of elongated objects having a horizontalorientation.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C, the vertical banding machine 100comprises a frame structure 1 having in an upper portion mounted theretoan elastic band supply mechanism 3 for providing an elastic band in agravity assisted fashion. The elastic band supply mechanism 3 receivestubing 5 made of elastic material such as, for example, rubber, but isnot limited thereto, from a storage container 7 via tubing roller 2 forguiding the tubing 5 between the storage container 7 and tubing feeder4. For example, the tubing 5 is moved a predetermined length and heldusing a combination of moving gripper fingers and holding gripperfingers. An elastic band is then produced by cutting a portion of thetubing having the predetermined length using a cutter assembly. It isnoted, that a mechanism for moving and cutting the tubing is disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 7,257,934 issued to Swift et al. After cutting, theelastic band is dropped onto band holders. An example process of theelastic band production process is described herein below with referenceto FIG. 3D. The gripper fingers and the cutter assembly are, forexample, piston driven which are operated in a pneumatic or hydraulic orelectric or electro-pneumatic fashion. Alternatively, the elastic bandsupply mechanism 5 comprises a mechanism for feeding elastic bands froma stock of a plurality of elastic bands.

With reference to FIG. 1A, disposed below the elastic band supplymechanism 3 is an elastic band deployment mechanism as indicated bydashed lines. The elastic band deployment mechanism comprises at leasttwo and preferably four band holding devices 18, an actuator 19 coupledto the band holding devices 18, and a flip mechanism 11 having the bandholding devices 18 and the actuator 19 mounted thereto. The band holdingdevices 18 receive the elastic band from the elastic band supplymechanism 3, for example, by being dropped onto respective band holders122 after cutting; stretch the elastic band 13 for providing a bandopening 15 surrounded by the elastic band 13 for accommodating one or aplurality of objects for banding therein; and disengage the elastic band13 from the band holders 122 for deploying the elastic band 13 onto theone or plurality of objects. The actuator 19 moves the band holdingdevices 18 between a first position for receiving the elastic band 13and a second position for disengaging the elastic band 13. The flipmechanism 11 moves the band holding devices 18 from a band receivingposition—the elastic band 13 opening being disposed in a plane orientedsubstantially horizontal—to a band disengaging position—the elastic band13 opening being disposed in a plane oriented substantially vertical.FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate the band holding devices 18 in the banddisengaging position. In the band disengaging position the band holdingdevices 18, the actuator 19 and the flip mechanism 11 are disposedoutside a handling space 21 approximately determined by projecting theband opening 15 along a straight line 17 through the band opening 15 andoriented substantially perpendicular to a plane of the band opening 15.Provision of the handling space 21 enables deployment of the elasticband 13 at any location along elongated objects. As illustrated in FIG.1C, the flip mechanism 11 comprises a flip plate 40 which isrotationally movably mounted to the frame 1 such that the flip plate 40is oriented substantially horizontal in the band receiving position andis oriented substantially vertical in the band disengaging position. Therotational movement is provided on one side of the flip plate 40, forexample, using a pneumatically (hydraulicly or electrically orelectro-pneumatically) driven 90 degree rotary actuator 24, which isavailable as a standard off-the-shelf unit, while the opposite side ofthe flip plate 40 is freely rotationally movably mounted using, forexample, a rotation pin accommodated in rotation block 8 made of, forexample, a type of industrial plastic such as Acetron®. Alternatively,an electric drive is employed for providing the rotational movement. Therotary actuator 24 and the rotation block 8 are vertically movablymounted to the frame 1 using, for example, guide rails and a gear drivesuch as a toothed wheel interacting with a toothed rack or one of ahydraulic, pneumatic or electro-pneumatic piston, enabling verticalmovement of the flip plate 40 between the band receiving position andthe band disengaging position. Alternatively, the vertical movement ofthe flip plate 40 is omitted by enabling sufficient vertical movement,for example, of the band holders 122 leaving sufficient distance betweenthe flip plate 40 to the elastic band supply mechanism 3 for enablingrotation of the flip plate 40.

Referring to FIGS. 2A to 2D, a preferred embodiment of the flip plate40, the band holding devices 18, and the actuator 19 according to theinvention is provided. The flip plate 40 is made, for example, from analuminum plate having a predetermined thickness to provide sufficientsupport and stiffness using standard computer controlled processes ofcutting, milling and drilling. Optionally, the flip plate 40 is made ofa material other than aluminum such as, for example, stainless steel orcomposite material. The flip plate 40 comprises a flip plate opening 10which is sufficiently large for accommodating the band opening 15therein. As shown in FIG. 2A, the actuator 19 preferably comprises fourswing arms 96. Each swing arm 96 has at a first end portion the bandholding device 18 mounted thereto and is rotatably mounted to the flipplate 40 at a second opposite end portion via swing arm rotation pin 12.Swing arm slot 14 is a curved cam like slot disposed between the firstend portion and the second end portion of the swing arm 96. The swingarm slot 14 interacts with swing arm guide pin 16, which is mounted torotation ring 101 and freely movable accommodated in the swing arm slot14. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the rotation ring 101 is mounted to theflip plate 40 via four rotation ring mounting pins 102, which areaffixed to the flip plate 40 and freely movable accommodated in rotationring slots 104. A rotation piston 92 is coupled to the rotation ring 101via rotation piston clevis attachment bolt 103 to transmit linear motionof the piston 92 into rotational motion of the rotation ring 101. Therotation piston 92 is driven, for example, in a pneumatic or hydraulicor electro-pneumatic fashion. Movement of the rotation piston 92 causesthe rotation ring 101 to rotate, which in turn causes the swing armguide pins 16 to move in the respective swing arm slots 14 causing theswing arms 96 to rotate about the swing arm rotation pins 12 for movingthe band holding devices 18 towards the center of the opening 10 forreceiving the elastic band or opposite for stretching and deploying theelastic band. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the rotation ring slots 104 arecurved such that, in concert with the rotation ring mounting pins 102, arotating movement of the rotation ring 101 is enabled. Furthermore, therotation ring slots 104 have a predetermined length such that movementof the band holding devices 18 between the first position for receivingthe elastic band and the second position for disengaging the elasticband is enabled. Optionally, the rotational movement of the rotationring 101—and consequently the movement of the band holding devices 18—isreduced by inserting a stop pin 105 into a predisposed threadedinsertion opening in the flip plate 40 and accommodated in therespective rotation ring slot 104, thus limiting the stretching of theelastic band 13 and the corresponding elastic band opening 15. The swingarms 96 and the rotation ring 101 are made, for example, from aluminumplates having a predetermined thickness to provide sufficient supportand stiffness using standard computer controlled processes of cutting,milling and drilling. Optionally, the swing arms 96 and the rotationring 101 are made of a material other than aluminum such as, forexample, stainless steel or composite material. The swing arm slots 14and the rotation ring slots 104 are designed in dependence upon thenumber of swing arms employed and a given maximum size of the bandopening 15 using standard gear engineering technology. The rotation ring101 is mounted to the flip plate 40 via the rotation ring mounting pins102, for example, by disposing a pair of washers having an outsidediameter larger than a width of the rotation ring slots 104 on each ofthe rotation ring mounting pins 102 such that one washer is disposed oneach side of the rotation ring 101 and hold in place using a nutinteracting with a threaded end portion of the rotation ring mountingpins 102. The rotation ring mounting pins 102 are, for example, steelbolts having threaded two end portions, one threaded end portion forinterfacing the nut and the other end portion for interfacing a threadedbore disposed in the flip plate 40. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, guidebushing 106 made, for example, of a low friction plastic material, isdisposed surrounding the swing arm guide pins 16 where accommodated inthe respective swing arm slots 14 for providing a roller movementbetween the swing arm slots 14 and the swing arm guide pins 16, thusreducing wear.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, four swing arms 96 are preferablyequally disposed around the opening 10, but the embodiments of theinvention are not limited thereto. Depending on the shape of the bandholders 122 and the size and shape of a desired band opening 15,different numbers—two or more—of swing arms 96 are employed.Furthermore, other than four rotation ring mounting pins 102 areemployed.

Alternatively, an electric drive is employed for rotating the rotationring 101, for example, by replacing the rotation piston 92 with atoothed gear drive comprising a driven toothed wheel interacting with atoothed surface disposed on a respective section of the rotation ring101.

Further alternatively, each swing arm 96 is actuated using a separatedrive, for example, by rotatable mounting the swing arm 96 to the flipplate 40 at a predetermined location between the first end portion andthe second end portion and coupling a piston drive to the second endportion.

Referring to FIGS. 2C and 2D, a preferred embodiment of the band holdingdevices 18 according to the invention is provided. The band holder 122is mounted to band holder piston rod 120 of band holder piston drive124. The band holder piston drive 124 provides linear movement to theband holder 122. The band holder piston drive 124 is implemented, forexample, using an off-the-shelf pneumatic or hydraulic orelectro-pneumatic compact piston drive. The band holder 122 comprises afirst portion mounted to the band holder piston rod 120. The firstportion of the band holder 122 is oriented substantially perpendicularto a longitudinal axis of the band holder piston rod 120. A secondportion is oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe band holder piston rod 120. The band holder 122 comprises slightlyrounded edges 128 where in contact with the elastic band 13, as well asa push off clearance groove 130 for accommodating a portion of push offpin 126 therein. The first portion of the band holder 122 comprises anopening for enabling movement of the push off pin 126 there through. Thepush off pin 126—for example, a stainless steel pin—is welded to pushoff mount 125, which is mounted to the band holder piston drive 124. Theelastic band 13 is dropped onto the band holder 122and during stretchingthe elastic band is in contact with the second portion of the bandholder 122. During receipt and stretching, the band holder piston rod120 is disposed in an extended position such that the push off pin 126is placed outside the second portion of the band holder 122. Duringdeployment of the elastic band the band holder piston rod 120 isretracted causing the push off pin 126 to move into the push offclearance groove 130, therefore, pushing the elastic band off the secondportion of the band holder 122. The slightly rounded edges 128 areprovided to prevent cutting of the elastic band during stretching anddeployment.

Optionally, the second portion of the band holder 122 is widened suchthat a sufficiently large band opening 15 is provided when using onlytwo band holding devices 18.

Alternatively, the band holder 122 is fixedly mounted while the push offpin 126 is movable.

Referring to FIGS. 3A to 3F, operation of the preferred embodiment ofthe band machine 100 according to the invention is described hereinbelow. FIG. 3A illustrates the banding machine 100 after deployment ofthe elastic band and rotation of the flip plate 40 into a horizontaloriented position. Stopper 42 made of, for example, a rubber materialabuts the flip plate 40 after the 90 degree rotation and provides acushioned stop thereto. The band holding devices 18—still in thedeployment position—are then moved to the band receiving position withthe second portion of the band holders 122 being disposed in closeproximity to each other, and the band holder piston rod 120 beingdisposed in an extended position, as illustrated in FIG. 3B. The flipplate 40 is then moved vertically towards the elastic band supplymechanism 3 for receiving the elastic band there from. The tubing 5 ismoved a predetermined length using moving gripper fingers 150 and thenhold using holding gripper fingers 152 for preventing the tubing fromany movement, for example, from being pulled back into the storagecontainer. Using cutter assembly 154 a portion of the tubing 5 havingthe predetermined length is then cut off producing the elastic band 13,which is then dropped onto the band holders 122, as illustrated in FIG.3D. After receipt of the elastic band, the flip plate 40 is loweredwhile the band holding devices 18 are moved outward for stretching theelastic band, as illustrated in FIG. 3E. After reaching a predeterminedvertical position which provides a sufficient distance to the elasticband supply mechanism 3 for rotation, the flip plate 40 is rotated 90degrees into a vertical oriented position while the band holding devices18 are moved outward to the elastic band deployment position providing asufficiently large band opening 15 for banding, as illustrated in FIG.3F. After deployment of the elastic band, for example, as describedherein above with reference to FIGS. 2C and 2D, the flip plate 40 isrotated 90 degrees into the horizontal position, as illustrated in FIG.3A.

The FIGS. 3A to 3F illustrate a sequence of snapshots of the operationof the banding machine 100. The various movements of the components are,for example, combined such that the rotation of the flip plate 40, thevertical movement of the flip plate 40 and the movement of the bandholding devices 18 are executed in a simultaneous fashion.Alternatively, the various movements are executed successively. Asdescribed herein above, the various movements are actuated usingpneumatic, hydraulic, electric and/or electro-pneumatic drives, whichare controlled using a control system made of standard off-the-shelfcomponents for controlling the pneumatic (or hydraulic, electric and/orelectro-pneumatic ) action in combination with a processor.

The present invention has been described herein with regard to preferredembodiments. However, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the artthat a number of variations and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as described herein.

1. A vertical banding machine comprising: an elastic band supplymechanism for providing an elastic band in a gravity assisted fashion;at least two band holding devices for: receiving the elastic band fromthe elastic band supply mechanism; stretching the elastic band forproviding a band opening surrounded by the elastic band foraccommodating a plurality of objects for banding therein; and,disengaging the elastic band from the holding devices for deploying theelastic band onto the plurality of objects; an actuator coupled to theband holding devices for moving the band holding devices between a firstposition for receiving the elastic band and a second position fordisengaging the elastic band; and, a flip mechanism having the bandholding devices and the actuator mounted thereto for moving the bandholding devices from a band receiving position, where the elastic bandis disposed in a plane oriented substantially horizontal, to a banddisengaging position, where the elastic band is disposed in a planeoriented substantially vertical, wherein in the disengaging position theband holding devices, the actuator, and the flip mechanism are disposedoutside a handling space determined by projecting the band opening alonga straight line through the band opening and oriented substantiallyperpendicular thereto.
 2. A vertical banding machine as defined in claim1 wherein the flip mechanism comprises a flip plate having the bandholding devices and the actuator mounted thereto, the flip platecomprising a flip plate opening which is sufficiently large foraccommodating the band opening therein.
 3. A vertical banding machine asdefined in claim 2 wherein the flip plate is rotational movable mountedto a frame such that the flip plate is oriented substantially horizontalin the band receiving position and is oriented substantially vertical inthe band disengaging position.
 4. A vertical banding machine as definedin claim 3 comprising a 90 degree rotary actuator for providingrotational movement to the flip plate.
 5. A vertical banding machine asdefined in claim 3 wherein the elastic band supply mechanism is mountedto a top portion of the frame and wherein the flip plate is verticalmovable between the band receiving position and the band disengagingposition.
 6. A vertical banding machine as defined in claim 2 whereinthe actuator comprises at least two swing arms, each swing arm having aband holding device mounted thereto at a first end portion and beingrotatable mounted to the flip plate at a second opposite end portion. 7.A vertical banding machine as defined in claim 6 wherein the actuatorcomprises a rotation ring rotational movable mounted to the flip platehaving at least two swing arm guide pins mounted thereto, each swing armguide pin being movable interfaced with a curved swing arm slot disposedin the respective swing arm such that rotational movement of therotation ring causes movement of the band holding devices between thefirst position and the second position.
 8. A vertical banding machine asdefined in claim 1 wherein each of the band holding devices comprises: aband holder for holding the elastic band; a push member for disengagingthe elastic band from the band holder; and, a push actuator mounted toone of the band holder and the push member for providing relativemovement between the band holder and the push member.
 9. A verticalbanding machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the elastic band supplymechanism comprises: a first gripper for holding a tubing made ofelastic band material; a second gripper for moving the tubing apredetermined length; and, a cutter for cutting a portion of the tubinghaving the predetermined length, the predetermined portion forming theelastic band.
 10. A vertical banding machine as defined in claim 9wherein the elastic band supply mechanism comprises a tubular guide anda tubing roller for guiding the tubing from a supply container to thefirst gripper.